Mechanical toy



June 8,1926. f 1,587,885

C. A. WETZELL MECHANICAL TOY Filed Sept. 4. 1925 shown.

Fatented June 8, 1926.

users STAT-ES CLARENCE A. WETZELL, or STERLING, rnmnors.

MECHANICAL TOY.

Application filed September 4, 1925. Serial No. 54,411.

This invention relates to mechanical toys, and more particularly to those which have one or more supporting wheels, and which have wheel operated toy figures or means of some kind which are actuated, when the toy is pulled along the floor.

Generally stated, the object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved toy of this general character, having instrumentalities to simulate a crew rowing a boat, the toy figures representing the crew being movable back and forth in unison when the toy is pulled along the floor.

t is also an object to provide certain de tails and features of construction tending to increase the general efficiency and desirability of a mechanical toy of this partic ular character.

To these and other useful ends, the invention consists in the matters hereinafter set forth and claimed, and as shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan of a mechanical toy embodying the principles of the invention, and

Figure 2 is a side elevation, partially in longitudinal section, of the toy shown in Figure 1.

As thus illustrated, the invention comprises a base 1 in the form of a racing shell, mounted upon bolsters 2 and 3, having axles 4Q and 5, to the end portions of which the wheels 6 are secured. Said holsters are preferably secured in place by means of screws 7, or other suitable means, in the manner Transverse cuts 8 are preferably made in the base, for the said axles, and inasmuch as the rear axle has a crank 9, the rear portion of the boat is also preferably formed with a round opening 10 in the under side thereof, providing clearance for said crank. A. longitudinal slot 11 is also formed in the bottom of the boat.

Each of the toy figures 12 has a round head and a cylindrical torso, and the lower ends of the torsos are mounted on the transverse pins 13 inserted-through the sides of the boat, the upper side of the boat having a longitudinal groove or recess 14*. in which the lower portions of the little figures are mounted. The toy figures are connected together by the arms 15 pivoted on the sides of the torso, in the manner shown, but the arms 16 of the front figure are pivotally connected to the upper end of a member 17, the lower end of which latter is in turn suitably pivoted on the boat. One figure is provided with a lower extension 18, and a pitman 19 is pivoted on this extension at one end and has its other end in suitable engagement with the crank 9, previously mentioned.

A pull cord 20 can be fastened to either end oft-he toy, and the toy when pulled along the floor will cause the little figures 12 to rocl: back and forth on the pins 13, in unison, so that they have the appearance of acrew rowing a boat.

The toy figures have a vibratory back and forth movement, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 2 of the drawings. As they are all connected together by the arms 15, the figures will move in unison, and the actuation of one figure by the pitman 19 is transmitted through the arms to the other figures.

Thus the arms 15 of the figures are overlapping, and present the appearance of a figure in the rear with outstretched arms, with hands upon the shoulders of the figure in front, and with the front figure having outstretched arms with hands resting upon the element 17 which simulates a propelling device. By front figure, of course, is meant the figure facing forward and nearest the device 17, regardless of which way the toy is pulled along the floor. Thus power is communicated through the body of one figure, and through the arms of this figure to another figure in front, and through the arms of figures in the rear. Any suitable number of figures can be employed, but in any event, motion is transmitted through arms from one figure to another, either through the arms of the one figure, or through the arms of the other figure, as the arms are practically all linked together by pivots which are each common to the arms of two figures.

lVithout disclaiming anything, and with out prejudice to any novelty disclosed, what I claim my invention is:

1. A, rowing crew toy comprising a boat, wheels therefor, a plurality of figures each comprising a body and arms and head, disposed in a row in said boat, meansto pivot the lower end of each body in the boat, means to pivotally connect the arms together, so that a figure in the rear has the appearance of having outstretcheu arms with hands upon the shoulder of the figure ahead, means to support the arms of the me in front, and wheel operated means to a-rrizuzzte one of said figures, thereby to {11mm 1111?; motion through iiims from figme i0 another.

2. A structure as specified in claim 1, each figure body being cylindrical, with a groove in said boat to receive the lower ends of the bodies, and the heads being spherical, While the pivoted arms are Eat and overlapping.

A. structure as specified in claim 1, said arr-ma being o'voriapping, and oat iaast one 10 figure having a shouider pivot passing through the arms thereof and through the ends of the arms of the figure behind.

Specification signed 'this 28th day Aug.

CLARENCE A. \VETZELL. 

